If you need hearing aids, and have been putting off the purchase, we’ve got news for you—private insurers in New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York with hearing aid benefits, giving you all the more reason to get a pair.
Left untreated, hearing loss may cause depression, anxiety and even cognitive decline. In fact a recent study of 3,670 adults over the age of 65 over a 25 year period showed a greater degree of cognitive decline for those who had untreated hearing loss compared to those who used hearing aids. The rate of cognitive decline was the same among those who used hearing aids and those with normal hearing.
Here’s a list of insurance companies currently offering hearing aid benefits in NJ, NY and MA.
New Jersey insurance plans:
- UnitedHealthcare
- UnitedHealthcare Oxford
- Aetna
- Horizon NJ Health
- Department of Treasury
New York insurance plans:
- EmpireBlue Cross BlueShield
- Cigna
- Department of Labor
- UnitedHealthcare
Massachusetts insurance plans:
- BlueCross BlueShield Mass
- Harvard Pilgram
- Senior Whole Health
- Tufts Health Plan
- Health New England
To find out if your insurance has a hearing aid benefit, call the 800 number on the back on your member ID card. If your current health insurance doesn’t have a hearing aid benefit, but you’re trying to make your purchase affordable, clinics usually offer financing to those who quality—allowing you to pay for your purchase over time.